Image display system utilizing light emitting material

ABSTRACT

A display system includes at least one light emitting material having an absorption band carried on a support, wherein the support is a laminated article having a first ply and a second ply; and a projection assembly having an electromagnetic radiation source, the projection assembly configured to direct radiation of one or more selected wavelengths within the absorption band of the light emitting material toward the light emitting material to cause at least a portion of the light emitting material to emit light. The support can be an automotive transparency, a commercial window, a residential window, a commercial sign, an advertising display, and an insulating glass unit. The light emitting material is fluorescent materials, phosphorescent materials, and mixtures thereof.

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser.No. 10/642,723 filed Aug. 18, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,499, in thenames of Scott D. Walck and Albert Monroe Snider, Jr. for “HEAD-UPDISPLAY SYSTEM UTILIZING FLUORESCENT MATERIAL” which is acontinuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/047,296filed on Jan. 14, 2002 now abandoned, in the name of Albert MonroeSnider, Jr. for “HEAD-UP DISPLAY SYSTEM UTILIZING FLUORESCENT MATERIAL”which applications in their entirety are herein incorporated byreference. This application claims the benefits of U.S. application Ser.No. 60/262,146 filed Jan. 16, 2001, which in its entirety is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to image and/or information displaysystems and, in one non-limiting embodiment, to an improved displaysystem utilizing light emitting, e.g. fluorescent material(s), which isparticularly useful in a vehicle head-up, display system.

2. Technical Considerations

An information display system displays an image, e.g. but not limited toblack and white, and/or colored stationary objects, moving objects,alphanumerical characters, to convey information to a viewer. One suchinformation display system is a head-up display (HUD) system. Theheads-up display system displays information, such as an image, to aviewer while the viewer simultaneously views the real world around andthrough the displayed image. Head-up display systems are oftenincorporated into aircraft cockpits and/or transparencies for pilots tomonitor flight information. More recently, head-up display systems havebeen used in land vehicles, such as cars, trucks, and the like. Thedisplayed image is generally positioned so that the vehicle operator cansee the image from a normal operating position and does not have toglance downwardly to the vehicle dashboard and away from the viewingarea in front of the vehicle.

A conventional head-up display system typically includes a matrix oflight emitting diodes (LED), which can be selectively illuminated toform an image. A collimator aligns the light rays from the LEDs anddirects them toward a combiner that reflects the image toward theviewer. For automotive use, laminated windshields have been used as thecombiner. Examples of automotive head-up display systems are disclosed,for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,264,044 and 5,013,134, andInternational Publication No. WO 91/06031, all of which are hereinincorporated by reference.

While these known vehicle head-up display systems are generally adequatefor automotive use, improvements could be made. For example, in theseconventional automotive head-up display systems the resolution of thereflected image is limited by the size of the LED matrix, i.e., thenumber of rows and columns of LEDs used to generate the image.Additionally, in strong sunlight, the reflected image from the LEDmatrix can be difficult to read. Further, reflection of the image fromeach of the interfaces of the windshield, especially the air-glassinterfaces, creates multiple images that can reduce overall imageclarity. Moreover, these conventional head-up display systems aredesigned so that only the vehicle operator, not vehicle passengers, canview the reflected image. Additionally, if the curvature of thewindshield deviates from designed specifications, the reflected imagecan appear distorted and can be difficult to discern.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide an information displaysystem, particularly an automotive head-up display system, which reducesor eliminates at least some of the drawbacks discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides display system, comprising: at least onelight emitting material having an absorption band carried on a support,wherein the support is a laminated article having a first ply and asecond ply; and a projection assembly having an electromagneticradiation source, the projection assembly configured to direct radiationof one or more selected wavelengths within the absorption band of thelight emitting material toward the light emitting material to cause atleast a portion of the light emitting material to emit light. In onenonlimiting embodiment of the invention, the support is an automotivetransparency, a commercial window, a residential window, a commercialsign, an advertising display, and an insulating glass unit. In anothernonlimiting embodiment of the invention, the light emitting material isselected from fluorescent materials, phosphorescent materials, andmixtures thereof.

The present invention also provides a display system, comprising: atleast one light emitting material having an absorption band carried on aautomotive transparency; and a projection assembly having anelectromagnetic radiation source, the projection assembly configured todirect radiation of one or more selected wavelengths within theabsorption band of the light emitting material toward the light emittingmaterial to cause at least a portion of the light emitting material toemit light.

Another nonlimiting embodiment of the present invention provides ahead-up display system, comprising: at least one light emitting materialhaving an absorption band carried on a support; and a projectionassembly having an electromagnetic radiation source, the projectionassembly configured to direct radiation of one or more selectedwavelengths within the absorption band of the light emitting materialtoward the light emitting material to cause at least a portion of thelight emitting material to emit light.

The present invention also provides a vehicle head-up display,comprising: a windshield having a first ply and a second ply; at leastone light emitting material having an adsorption band and locatedbetween the first and second ply; and a projection assembly having anelectromagnetic radiation source and configured to direct radiation ofone or more selected wavelengths within the absorption band toward thelight emitting material to cause at least a portion of the lightemitting material to emit light to form an image.

The present invention further provides a method of displaying images,comprising the steps of: providing a support having at least one lightemitting material; directing electromagnetic radiation from a radiationsource in a first direction along a first scan path while selectivelyenergizing and deenergizing the radiation source; displacing theelectromagnetic radiation in a second direction substantiallyperpendicular to the first direction; and directing the electromagneticradiation in a third direction along a second scan path substantiallyparallel to the first direction while selectively energizing anddeenergizing the radiation source, wherein energizing and de-energizingthe radiation source along the scan paths forms an image.

The present invention also provides a method of displaying images,comprising the steps of: selectively directing electromagnetic radiationfrom a radiation source towards an automotive transparency having atleast one light emitting material; and moving the radiation along atleast a portion of the automotive transparency and controlling theradiation source to cause the light emitting material to emit light toform an image.

The present invention further provides a display system, comprising: asheet having at least one light emitting material having a predeterminedabsorption band and having a major surface defined as a first majorsurface and a major surface opposite to and spaced from the first majorsurface defined as a second major surface; a layer substantiallynon-transparent to wavelengths within the predetermined absorption bandover a portion of the second major surface; and a projection assemblyhaving an electromagnetic radiation source for generating at least onebeam having at least one selective wavelength within the absorptionband, the projection assembly including a movement device configured todirect the beam toward the first major surface to impinge the beam onthe light emitting material and to move the beam over the surface of thelight emitting material to cause at least a portion of the lightemitting material to emit wavelengths at least in the range of 380nanometers to 760 nanometers of the electromagnetic spectrum defined asthe visible region.

The present invention also provides a laminated article for use indisplaying images, comprising: a first transparent sheet having a firstmajor surface and an opposite major surface defined as a second majorsurface; a second sheet having a first major surface and an oppositemajor surface defined as a second major surface; an interlayer betweenand securing the second surface of the first and second sheets toposition the first and second sheets in facing relationship to oneanother, and at least one light emitting material having an absorptionband on the first major surface of the first sheet or between the secondmajor surfaces of the first and second sheets wherein the at least onelight emitting material emits wavelengths in the range of 380 to 760nanometers (“nm”) of the electromagnetic spectrum when radiation of oneor more selected wavelengths within the absorption band of the lightemitting material impinges on the at least one light emitting material.

The present invention further provides a laminated article for use indisplaying objects, comprising: a first transparent sheet having a firstmajor surface and an opposite major surface defined as a second majorsurface; a second sheet having a first major surface and an oppositemajor surface defined as a second major surface; an interlayer betweenand securing the second surface of the first and second sheets in facingrelationship to one another, and at least one light emitting materialcapable of Up-Conversion of infrared energy into visible radiationdefined as Up-Conversion material on the first major surface of thefirst sheet or between the first major surfaces of the first and secondsheets.

The present invention provides a head-up display, comprising: (a) alaminated transparency, comprising: a first transparent sheet having afirst major surface and an opposite major surface defined as a secondmajor surface; a second transparent sheet having a first major surfaceand an opposite major surface defined as a second major surface; aninterlayer between and securing the first and second sheets to oneanother with the second major surfaces of the sheets facing one another,and at least one light emitting material having an absorption band onthe first major surface of the first sheet or between the first majorsurfaces of the first and second sheets, and (b) a projection assemblyhaving an electromagnetic radiation source, the projection assemblymounted in spaced relationship to the laminated transparency andconfigured to direct radiation of one or more selected wavelengthswithin the absorption band of the at least one light emitting materialtoward the first surface of the first sheet to impinge on the at leastone light emitting material to cause selected portions of the at leastone light emitting material to emit light.

The present invention also provides a head-up display, comprising: (a) alaminated transparency, comprising: a first transparent sheet having afirst major surface and an opposite major surface defined as a secondmajor surface; a second transparent sheet having a first major surfaceand an opposite major surface defined as a second major surface; aninterlayer between and securing the first and second sheets to oneanother with the second major surfaces of the sheets facing one another,and at least one light emitting material capable of Up-Conversion ofinfrared energy into visible radiation defined as Up-Conversion materialon the first major surface of the first sheet or between the first majorsurfaces of the first and second sheets, and (b) a projection assemblyhaving an electromagnetic radiation source, the projection assemblymounted in spaced relationship to the laminated transparency andconfigured to direct radiation of one or more selected wavelengthswithin the absorption band of the at least one Up-Conversion materialtoward the first surface of the first sheet to impinge on the at leastone Up-Conversion material to cause selected portions of the at leastone Up-Conversion material to emit light.

The present invention also provides a method of displaying images,comprising the steps of: selectively moving at least one beam ofradiation of one or more selected wavelengths in a direction defined asa first direction toward a surface defined as a first surface of a lightemitting material selected from materials having an absorption band, amaterial capable of Up-Conversion into visible radiation and mixturesthereof; displacing the radiation beam and the light emitting materialrelative to one another during the practice of the selectively movingstep to selectively impinging at least one radiation beam having awavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum on the light emittingmaterial to cause the light emitting material to emit light having apredetermined configuration, while preventing transmission of radiationof wavelengths within the absorption band in a direction toward asurface defined as a second surface of the light emitting materialwherein the first surface is opposite to the second surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view (not to scale) of a head-up display systemfor a vehicle which incorporates features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view (not to scale) of a support with fluorescentmaterial incorporating features of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a fluorescent image formed in accordance withthe teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view (not to scale) of an alternative embodimentof a projecting assembly for use with a head-up display system of theinvention; and

FIG. 5 is a graph of percent transmittance versus wavelength comparing aclear glass ply to a laminated article described in Example 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before discussing the non-limiting embodiments of the invention, it isunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of the particular embodiments shown and discussed since theinvention is capable of other embodiments. Further the terminology usedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

As used herein, spatial or directional terms, such as “inner”, “outer”,“left”, “right”, “up”, “down”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, and the like,relate to the invention as it is shown in the drawing figures. However,it is to be understood that the invention can assume various alternativeorientations and, accordingly, such terms are not to be considered aslimiting. Further, all numbers expressing dimensions, physicalcharacteristics, and so forth, used in the specification and claims areto be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”.Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical values setforth in the following specification and claims can vary depending uponthe desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention.At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of thedoctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numericalparameter should at least be construed in light of the number ofreported significant digits and by applying ordinary roundingtechniques. Moreover, all ranges disclosed herein are to be understoodto encompass any and all subranges subsumed therein. For example, astated range of “1 to 10” should be considered to include any and allsubranges between (and inclusive of) the minimum value of 1 and themaximum value of 10; that is, all subranges beginning with a minimumvalue of 1 or more and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less, e.g.,1 to 7.6, or 3.4 to 9.3, or 5.5 to 10. Also, as used herein, the terms“deposited over”, “applied over”, or “provided over” mean deposited,applied, or provided on but not necessarily in surface contact with. Forexample, a material “deposited over” a substrate does not preclude thepresence of one or more other materials of the same or differentcomposition located between the deposited material and the substrate.

The terms “head-up display”, “head-up display system”, “HUD” or “HUDsystem” as used herein is a system that displays information, such as animage, to a viewer while the viewer simultaneously views the real worldaround and through the displayed image. The terms “image display system”or “display system” as used herein means a system that includes a lightemitting material and an electromagnetic source that is selectivelymodulated to direct an energy beam toward the light emitting material toselectively impinge on the light emitting material to display an image,e.g. but not limited to black and white, and/or colored stationaryobjects, moving objects, alphanumerical characters, to a viewer.Optionally and as discussed in detail below, the light emitting materialcan be mounted on a transparent substrate so that a viewer can view thereal world around and through the light emitting material, or the lightemitting material can have an opaque or translucent background so that aviewer can view the real world around but not through the light emittingmaterial. As can now be appreciated an image display system includes ahead-up display system. In the following discussion, a display systemincorporating features of the invention will be discussed generally withreference to use in a head-up display system for a vehicle, such as anautomobile. It is to be understood, however, that the specificallydisclosed exemplary apparatus and method are presented simply to explainthe general concepts of the invention and that the invention is notlimited to these specific exemplary non-limiting embodiments of theinvention. As would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, theinvention can be practiced in many fields, such as but not limited to,laminated or non-laminated residential and/or commercial windows,insulating glass units, e.g. but not limited to insulating glass unitsfor enclosures, e.g. but not limited to houses and commercial buildingsand temperature controlled containers having a viewing area, e.g.refrigerators having a door with a viewing area, commercial signs,entertainment displays, advertising displays, monitors for televisionsor computers, and/or transparencies for land, air, space, above waterand under water vehicles, e.g., automotive windshields, sidelights, backlights, sunroofs, and moon roofs, just to name a few.

An exemplary non-limiting display system identified by the number “10”incorporating features of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. Thedisplay system 10 is a head-up display system for a vehicle and includesone or more light emitting materials 11 carried on a support 12, and aprojection assembly 14. The components of the exemplary head-up displaysystem 10 shown in FIG. 1 will first be described and then operation ofthe head-up display system 10 to practice an exemplary method of theinvention will be described.

THE SUPPORT—The support 12 can be of any desired type, such as but notlimited to, a single ply or a laminated article. In the exemplaryembodiment shown in FIG. 1, but not to be considered as limiting to theinvention, the support 12 is shown as a laminated article having a firstply or sheet 18 with a major surface 20 facing the vehicle interior,also referred to as inner major surface, and an opposed or outer majorsurface 22 facing the vehicle exterior, also referred to as outer majorsurface. The support 12 further includes a second ply or sheet 24 havingan inner major surface 26 facing the vehicle interior, also referred toas inner major surface and an opposed outer major surface 28 facing thevehicle exterior, also referred to as outer major surface 28. The firstand second plies 18, 24 can be secured together in a fixed relationshipin any suitable manner, e.g. but not limiting to the invention,interlayer 32 can secure the plies in a fixed relationship, e.g. as isknown in the automotive laminating art. A conventional edge sealant 34can be applied to the perimeter of the laminated article during and/orafter lamination in any desired manner to prevent edge damage to theplies 18, 24. A decorative band 36, e.g., an opaque, translucent orcolored shade band, such as a ceramic band, can be provided on a surfaceof at least one of the plies 18, 24, for example and as shown in FIG. 1,around the perimeter of the inner major surface 20 of the first ply 18.

In the practice of the invention, the plies 18, 24 and the interlayer 32of the support 12 can be of any desired material, e.g. the plies 18, 24can be of the same or different material, and the plies 18, 24 and theinterlayer 32 can have any desired optical characteristics. For example,the plies 18, 24 and/or interlayer 32 can be transparent, translucent oropaque to a wavelength or a wavelength range of the electromagneticspectrum. By “transparent” is meant having a transmittance of awavelength and/or a wavelength range of the electromagnetic spectrum ofgreater than 0% to 100%. By “translucent” is meant passing all or aportion of a wavelength and/or wavelength range of the electromagneticspectrum but diffusing the passed wavelength such that viewed objects inthe path of the passed wavelength are not clearly discernable. By“opaque” is meant having a transmittance of a wavelength and/orwavelength range of the electromagnetic spectrum of 0%.

As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the ultraviolet (alsoreferred to as “UV”) range (also referred to as “region” or “portion”),visible range (also referred to as “region” or “portion”), and infrared(also referred to as “IR”) range (also referred to as “region” or“portion”), of the electromagnetic spectrum are set depending on thematerial though which the wavelengths travel. For measuring wavelengthspassing through automotive transparencies, the UV range is about 180 toless than 380 nanometers (“nm”). Below 180 nm are the X-rays, gamma raysand cosmic rays. The invention contemplates generating wavelengths usingmechanical instruments; therefore for purposes of the invention, unlessindicated otherwise the UV range is 0 to less than 380 nm. For measuringwavelengths passing through automotive transparencies, the visible rangeis 380 nm to 760 nm. For purposes of the invention, unless indicatedotherwise the visible range is 380 to 760 nm. For measuring wavelengthspassing through automotive transparencies, the infrared (“IR”) range ofthe electromagnetic spectrum is greater than 760 nm. Above 760 nm is thenear infrared (“NIR”) and the far infrared (“FIR”). For purposes of theinvention, unless indicated otherwise, the IR range is greater than 760nm and includes the NIR and FIR.

For automotive use, the first and second plies 18, 24 are eachpreferably a soda-lime-silicate glass however the invention is notlimited thereto and other materials transparent to visible light, e.g.but not limiting the invention thereto porous glasses of the type soldby Corning Glass, borosilicate glasses, lead glasses, heavy-metal halideglasses and plastics, e.g. but not limiting the invention theretopolymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, polyurethane,polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), or copolymers of any monomers forpreparing these, or mixtures thereof) can be used in the practice of theinvention. The plies can be of any type and can be of any composition.The plies can have any optical properties, e.g., any value oftransmission in the ultraviolet, visible or infrared range of theelectromagnetic spectrum, and/or any sum of the combination of thetransmissions, i.e. the total solar energy transmission. In the practiceof the invention, but not limiting thereto, the plies are glass plies,and the glass plies or glass can be any type of glass, e.g. float, plateor rolled glass. Further the glass can be clear glass or non-clearglass. By “clear glass” is meant non-tinted or non-colored glass. By“non-clear glass” is meant the glass can be tinted or otherwise colored.The glass can be annealed or strengthened, e.g. thermally tempered,chemically tempered or heat strengthened. As used herein, the term “heatstrengthened” means partially tempered. The first and second plies 18,24 can each be clear glass or can be non-clear glass or one ply can beclear glass and the other non-clear glass. Although not limiting to theinvention, examples of glass suitable for the first ply 18 and/or secondply 24 are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,746,347; 4,792,536; 5,240,886;5,385,872, and 5,393,593, which patents are hereby incorporated byreference. The first and second plies 18 and 24 can be of any desireddimensions, e.g., any desired length, width or thickness and/or anyshape or configuration. For use in automotive transparencies, the firstand second plies 18 and 24 can each be 1 millimeter (“mm”) to 10 mmthick, e.g., less than 10 mm thick, e.g., 1 mm to 5 mm thick, e.g., 1.5mm to 2.5 mm, e.g., 1.8 mm to 2.3 mm. The plies 18 and 24 of automotivelaminated windshields are usually “float glass” or “flat glass”. By“float glass” or “flat glass” is meant glass formed by the PPGIndustries, Inc. or Pilkington float processes in which molten glass isdeposited onto a molten metal bath and controllably cooled to form afloat glass ribbon. The ribbon is then cut into pieces or sheets, andthe pieces are shaped and/or heat-treated as desired. Examples of floatglass processes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,466,562 and 4,671,155which patents are hereby incorporated by reference.

The interlayer 32 can be of any desired material and can include one ormore layers or plies. As will be described in more detail below, theinterlayer material can be or can include a material selected to block,absorb, or at least attenuate the transmission of electromagnetic energyof one or more selected wavelengths. In the fabrication of laminatedtransparencies, e.g. but not limiting to the invention, automotivewindshields and sidelights, the interlayer 32 can be a plastic materialsuch as, for example, polyvinyl butyral, plasticized polyvinyl chloride,polyurethane or multi-layered thermoplastic materials includingpolyethylene terephthalate, etc. Suitable interlayer materials aredisclosed, for example but not limiting to the invention, in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,287,107 and 3,762,988, which are patents are hereby incorporatedby reference. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, theinterlayer 32 is a single polyvinyl butyral ply having a thickness of0.5 mm to 1 mm, e.g., 0.76 mm. The interlayer 32 secures the first andsecond plies 18 and 24 together, provides energy absorption, reducesnoise, and/or increases the strength of the laminated structure. Theinterlayer 32 can also be a sound absorbing or attenuating material asdescribed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,055, which patent ishereby incorporated by reference. Further, the interlayer 32 can have asolar control coating provided thereon or incorporated therein or caninclude a colored material to reduce solar energy transmission.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, a functional coating 42 can also becarried on any of the surfaces of the components, e.g. the plies 18 and24, and interlayer 32 of the support 12. The functional coating 42 canbe a coating, which affects the solar properties, e.g., emissivity,shading coefficient, transmission, absorption, reflection, etc., orconductive properties, e.g., thermal or electrical conduction, of thesupport 12. As used herein, the term “coating” includes one or morecoating layers and/or coating films. The functional coating 42 can haveone or more functional coating layers or films of the same or differentcomposition or functionality. As used herein, the terms “layer” or“film” refer to a coating region of a desired or selected coatingcomposition.

Examples of functional coatings include, but not to be considered aslimiting to an electro conductive coating, a heatable coating, anantenna coating, or a solar control coating. As used herein, the term“solar control coating” refers to a coating which affects the solarproperties of the coated article, such as but not limited to, shadingcoefficient and/or emissivity and/or the amount of solar radiationreflected and/or absorbed by and/or transmitted through the coatedarticle, e.g., infrared or ultraviolet absorption or reflection. Thesolar control coating can block, absorb, or filter selected portions ofthe solar spectrum, such as but not limited to, the visible spectrum.Non-limiting examples of solar control and antenna coatings aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,898,789; 5,821,001; 4,716,086; 4,610,771;4,902,580; 4,716,086; 4,806,220; 4,898,790; 4,834,857; 4,948,677;5,059,295; and 5,028,579, which patents are hereby incorporated byreference. Non-limiting examples of electro conductive coatings aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,653,903 and 5,028,759, which patents arehereby incorporated by reference.

In one exemplary embodiment, the functional coating 42 can be a lowemissivity coating. As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, a“low emissivity” coating is a coating having an emissivity equal to andless than 0.1 and usually equal to and below 0.05. Further as can beappreciated by one skilled in the art, different coating processesprovide coatings with different emissivity values. For example, lowemissivity sputter applied coatings typically have an emissivity in therange of 0.01 to 0.06, depending on the number of reflective metallayers present in the coating. Low emissivity pyrolytically appliedcoatings typically have an emissivity in the range of less than 0.03.Examples of low emissivity coatings, but not limiting to the inventionthereto, are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,952,423 and 4,504,109. Thefunctional coating 42 can be a single layer or multiple layer coatingand can include one or more metals, non-metals, semi-metals,semiconductors and/or alloys, compounds, composites, combinations, orblends thereof. For example, the functional coating 42 can be a singlelayer metal oxide coating, a multiple layer metal oxide coating, anon-metal oxide coating, or a multiple layer coating.

Non-limiting examples of functional coatings 42 which can be used withthe invention are commercially available from PPG Industries, Inc. ofPittsburgh, Pa., under the families of coatings identified by theregistered trademarks SUNGATE® and SOLARBAN®. Such functional coatingstypically include one or more anti-reflective coating films includingdielectric or anti-reflective materials, such as metal oxides or oxidesof metal alloys, which are transparent or substantially transparent tovisible light. The functional coating 42 can also include infraredreflective films having a reflective metal, e.g., a noble metal such asgold, copper, or silver, or combinations or alloys thereof, and canfurther include a primer film or barrier film, such as titanium, as isknown in the art, located over and/or under the metal reflective layers.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the functional coating 42is deposited over the inner major surface 26 of the second ply 24.However, it is to be understood that the functional coating 42 is notlimited to this location. The functional coating 42 can be, for example,deposited over all or at least a portion of any of the major surfaces ofthe first ply 18 or second ply 24 or on or incorporated into theinterlayer 32. The functional coating 42 can be deposited in anyconventional manner, such as but not limited to, magnetron sputter vapordeposition (MSVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), spray pyrolysis(i.e., pyrolytic deposition), atmospheric pressure CVD (APCVD),low-pressure CVD (LPCVD), plasma-enhanced CVD (PECVD), plasma assistedCVD (PACVD), thermal or electron-beam evaporation, cathodic arcdeposition, plasma spray deposition, and wet chemical deposition (e.g.,sol-gel). The functional coating 42 can be of any desired type orthickness, such as a solar control coating having a thickness of 700 Åto 1000 Å. The functional coating 42 can have any number or type ofinfrared reflective layers, such as one, two or more silver layers.

Although in the exemplary embodiment described above the support 12 is alaminated article having the light emitting material 11, e.g.fluorescent material located between the plies, it should be understoodthat the invention is not limited to this embodiment, e.g., thefluorescent material 11 can be located on an outer major surface of thelaminated article or, as shown in FIG. 2, support 44 can be a“monolithic” article 45 with the light emitting material 11, e.g.fluorescent material located on at least a portion of one or moresurfaces of the monolithic article 45. By “monolithic” is meant anarticle having a single structural substrate or primary ply, e.g., aglass ply. By “primary ply” is meant a primary support or structuralmember. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the support 44 can be formed bya single ply 46 having a first major surface 48 and a second majorsurface 50 with the fluorescent material 11 deposited over or carried onall or at least a portion of at least one of the major surfaces 48, 50.The single ply 46 can be of any material having any desired opticalcharacteristics, such as those described above. A protective coating(not shown in FIG. 2), e.g., a metal or metal oxide coating, can bedeposited over the fluorescent material 11 to protect the fluorescentmaterial 11 from chemical or mechanical wear. Alternatively oradditionally, a functional coating 42 (shown only in FIG. 1), such asdescribed above, can also be deposited over at least a portion of one ormore of the major surfaces 48, 50 (either over or under the fluorescentmaterial) to provide the support 44 with solar control features. Anelectromagnetic radiation absorbing material 52, such as the interlayermaterial described above or a similar material, can also be depositedover all or at least a portion of one or more of the major surfaces 48,50 of the ply 46 to reduce or eliminate electromagnetic radiation ofselected wavelengths passing through the support 44. It is also to beunderstood that in this embodiment (without a radiation absorbingmaterial) the radiation from the radiation source 60 can be directed atthe fluorescent material from either side of the support 44.

As discussed above, the supports 12 and 44 can be an automotivetransparency. As used herein, the term “automotive transparency” refersto an automotive windshield, sidelight, back light, moon roof, sunroof,and the like. The automotive transparency can have a visible lighttransmission of any desired amount, e.g., greater than 0% to 100%, e.g.,greater than 70%. For non-privacy areas, the visible light transmissioncan be greater than or equal to 70%. For privacy areas, the visiblelight transmission can be less than 70%.

THE LIGHT EMITTING MATERIALS—In the practice of the invention, the lightemitting material may be applied to one or both of the surfaces of, orincorporated into the body of, the first ply 18, the second ply 24and/or the interlayer 32. As used herein, the term “light emittingmaterial” means a material that emits electromagnetic radiation in thevisible range of the electromagnetic spectrum, i.e. 380 nm up to lessthan 760 nm. Exemplary light emitting materials suitable for thepractice of the invention include fluorescent and phosphorescentmaterials. In one non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the lightemitting material 11 absorbs electromagnetic energy of a firstwavelength, e.g. but not limiting to the invention a first wavelength inthe UV, visible or infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum andemits electromagnetic energy having a second wavelength different thanthe first wavelength, e.g. but not limiting to the invention a secondwavelength at least in the visible region. As can now be appreciated,the first wavelength and the second wavelength can be from the sameregion of the electromagnetic spectrum, e.g. UV, visible or infrared. Ascan further be appreciated, the invention contemplates the lightemitting material absorbing wavelengths in the visible region andemitting wavelengths in the visible region, e.g., but not limiting tothe invention, impinging a wavelength of 545 nm (green light) andemitting a wavelength of 650 nm (red light). However, in the instancewhen the energy beam in the visible range passes through a transparentmaterial and is incident on the light emitting material, the energy beamis reflected from the surfaces of the transparent material and visiblyinterferes with the viewing of the image displayed by the light emittingmaterial. The interference problem is reduced when the energy beam inthe visible range is normal to the surface of the transparent material.

In one non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the secondwavelength(s), e.g. the emitted wavelength is (are) longer than thefirst wavelength(s), e.g. the incident wave length, i.e. the energy ofthe emitted photon(s) is lower than the energy of the absorbed photon(s)(hereinafter also referred to as “Stage I Conversion”). Preferably inthe practice of the invention but not limiting thereto, the incidentwavelength is not discernable by the viewer. As can be appreciated bythose skilled in the art, a small percent of humans can detect a beamhaving a wavelength less than 400 nm of the electromagnetic spectrum.Therefore, although the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrumis in the range of 380 to 760 nm, in the practice of the invention, theincident wavelength is in the range 0 to less than 400 nm of theelectromagnetic spectrum (also referred to as the “broad UV range” or“broad UV region” or “broad UV portion”). In a non-limiting embodimentof the invention, the fluorescent material 11 absorbs energy (e.g., oneor more wavelengths) within a region of the electromagnetic spectrum inthe broad UV range, e.g. between greater than 0 to less than 400 nm,such as in a range of 325 nm to less than 400 nm, e.g., 350 nm to lessthan 400 nm, e.g., 397 nm. In Stage I Conversion, the portion of theelectromagnetic spectrum or wavelength(s) of the electromagneticspectrum absorbed by the light emitting material 11 is generallyreferred to herein as the “absorption band” of the light emittingmaterial 11. The light emitting material preferably fluoresces or emitswavelengths at one or more wavelengths at least in the visible portionor region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The light emitting material 11 for Stage I Conversion can be any type oflight emitting material, such but not limited to one or more organic,organo-metallic, or inorganic light emitting (e.g., fluorescent and/orphosphorescent) materials, and can be present in any desired amount. Anexample of one fluorescent material 11 suitable for the practice of theinvention is Uvitex® OB fluorescent material commercially available fromCiba Specialty Chemicals Corporation. Other suitable light emittingorganic materials include stibene, styrene, and ethylene speciessupplemented with one or more heterocyclic substituents such asbenzoxazolyl, v-triazolyl, oxadiazolyl, or s-triazinylamino groups.Other suitable inorganic light emitting materials include oxides,sulfides, or oxide-sulfides of metals that are “doped” with (i.e.,include small amounts of) elements of another metal, e.g. Y₂O₃:Eu,YVO₄:Tm, ZnS:Mn, Y₂O₂S:Pr, and Gd₂O₂S:Tb. Further yttrium and gadoliniumsilicates activated by rare earths elements of the type discussed in“Luminophors Based on Yttrium and Gadolinium Silicates Activated byRare-Earth Elements” by I. A. Bondar, A. A. Kolpakova, L. Ya.Markovskii, A. N. Sokolov and L. E. Tarasova, published in IzvesatiyaAkademii Nauk USSR, Seriya Fizicheskaya (1969), 33(6), 1057-61 can beused in the practice of the invention. In general luminophors activatedby 2Y₂O₃.SiO₂, Y₂SiO₅, Y_(4.67)—(SiO₄)₃O, and Y₂Si₂O₇ were prepared frompure Si and Y₂O₃ by fusion. The cathodoluminescence is most intense at 2mole percent Ce₂Si₂O₇. It was also reported that the following phosphorshave outstanding luminescence: 2Gd₂O₃.SiO₂—Th, Gd₂O₃.I₃SiO₂—Ce, andGd₂O₃.3SiO₂—Eu. The preceding information was obtained from SciFinder onMar. 4, 2003. Still further, lutetia-based ceramic scintillatordiscussed in “A New Lutetia-based Ceramic Scintillator for X-rayImaging” by A. Lempicki, C. Brecher, P. Szupryczynski, H. Lingertat, V.V. Nagarkar, S. V. Tipnis and S. R. Miller published in NuclearInstruments & Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators,Spectrometers, Detectors, and Associated Equipment (2002), 488(3),579-590 can be used in the practice of the invention. The scintillatoror phosphor is based on a transparent ceramic of Lu₂O₃:Eu. The precedinginformation was obtained from SciFinder dated Mar. 4, 2003. Additionalnonlimiting phosphors that can be used in the present invention includeLu₂SiO₅:Ce, Y₂SiO₅:Ce, and GdSiO₅:Ce.

As can be appreciated, practicing non-limiting embodiments of Stage IConversion of the invention on transparent substrates, e.g. applying thelight emitting material on a transparent substrate such as but notlimited the invention thereto an automotive windshield, and practicingthe non-limiting embodiments of the invention in an environment that hasUV radiation, e.g. outdoors such as but not limiting the inventionthereto driving an automobile on a sunny day may result in the UVradiation in the environment uncontrollably energizing the lightemitting materials. To eliminate this limitation, a UV blockingmaterial, e.g. but not limiting the invention thereto a glass and/orplastic ply containing a UV absorbing material, e.g. cerium, titaniumpolyvinyl butyral or applying a coating on the glass and/or plasticplies provided between the light emitting material and the source of theUV radiation prevents the UV radiation from impinging on the lightemitting material. In the alternative, an opaque layer may be providedbetween the light emitting material and the uncontrolled source of theUV radiation, e.g. the environment.

In another non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the secondwavelength(s), e.g. the emitted wavelength is (are) shorter than thefirst wavelength(s), e.g. the absorbed wavelength (also referred to as“Stage II Conversion” or “Up-Conversion”). For example, but not limitingto the invention, the light emitting material 11 absorbs electromagneticenergy in a portion of the visible range and the infrared range of theelectromagnetic spectrum, or absorbs two different or the samewavelengths in the IR region, and emits electromagnetic radiation in thevisible range of the electromagnetic spectrum, i.e. 380 nm to 760 nm. Avery small percentage of humans can see wavelengths in the range of 380to 400 nm and 700 to 760 nm of the electromagnetic spectrum; thereforein the practice of the invention it is preferred to have the emittedradiation from light emitting material for the Stage I Conversion andthe Stage II Conversion in the wavelength range of 380 to less than 760,and more preferably, in wavelength range of 400 to 700 nm.

The theory of Up-Conversion is well known in the art, e.g. see“Up-Conversion use for Viewing and Recording Infrared Images” S. A.Pollack et al., Applied Optics, Vol. 26, No. 20, Oct. 15, 1987, pages4400-4406, and Downing et al., Science, 273, 1185, Aug. 30, 1996, theentire content of the documents are hereby incorporated by reference.Only a brief discussion will be presented herein. More particularly, ina non-limiting embodiment of the invention, an electron of the lightemitting material is energized to a first energy level, thereafterenergized a second, third or more times to raise or up convert theelectrons to a desired energy level. For example, host systems of thetype discussed in the article by Pollack identified above have Er3+ ionsup convert 980 nm and 1500-1600 nm radiation into 545 nm green radiationand 660 nm red radiation, respectively. The energy input to the lightemitting material can be determined from the formula E=hc/λ, where h isPlanck's constant, c is the speed of light and λ is the wavelength ofthe desired visible wavelength, e.g. for green light the wavelength is545 nm. The light emitting material 11 for Stage II Conversion can beany type of light emitting material, such but not limited to one or moreorganic, organo-metallic, or inorganic light emitting (e.g., fluorescentand/or phosphorescent) materials discussed above for Stage I conversion,and can be present in any desired amount. Examples of light emittingmaterial 11 suitable for the practice. Stage II Conversion of theinvention include but are not limited to Tm³⁺ and Er³⁺ incorporated intovarious host crystals. Optionally Yb³⁺ ions can be used as a sensitizerto boost the efficiency of the Up-Conversion process, e.g. Tm³⁺—Yb³⁺systems upconvert 970 nm radiation into 470 nm blue radiation. Systemsemploying Er³⁺—Yb³⁺ ions upconvert 980 nm and 1500-1600 nm radiationinto 545 nm green radiation and 660 nm red radiation respectively. It ispossible to change the emission color either by changing the intensityof the excited radiation or the excitation wavelength, thus producingcolor modulation and color tuning effects. Preferably but not limitingto the invention, in the practice of Stage II Conversion two radiationbeams in the IR region are used. However in the instance when one of thebeams is in the visible region and when the light absorbing material isused with a transparent substrate, the radiation beam is preferablynormal to the substrate surface. Because Stage II Conversion requirespumping radiation, e.g. energizing the light emitting material by theabsorption of two or more photons of the same or different wavelengths,there is no need to block the environment from the light emittingmaterial as was recommended for the Stage I Conversion. However, anopaque layer may be used to make the image generated by the lightemitting material more distinguishable, e.g. an image on a solid coloredbackground.

As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, theparticular light emitting material utilized for Stage I and Stage IIConversions can be selected, based on the electromagnetic radiationsource used in the projection assembly 14 described below and/or by thedesired wavelength of the light emitted from the light emitting material11, such as to produce an image of one or more desired colors. In onenon-limiting embodiment of the invention, the light emitting material 11is carried on all or at least a portion of the supports 12 and 44, e.g.,on all or at least a portion of one or more surfaces of one or more ofthe components, e.g. plies 18, 24, and interlayer 32 of the support 12.Alternatively, the light emitting material 11 can be incorporated intothe materials of the plies 18, 24, and/or the interlayer 32. The lightemitting material 11 can be applied in any conventional manner to all ora portion of one or more surfaces of the plies 18, 24, and/or interlayer32. Several techniques that may be used but are not limiting to theinvention, include the following. The light emitting material 11 can bedissolved in a solvent or the dyes in the form of a powder and can bemixed with a binder, e.g. optical epoxy transparent to the excitingenergy and applying the resultant solution applied onto the surface of asubstrate, e.g. the plies 18, 24, and interlayer 32 by spraying,dipping, or rolling. Techniques of providing the light emitting materialin a liquid state include mixing the material in a sol gel orencapsulating the material in a dendrimer. In the latter case the dye,e.g. the light emitting material or dye and a solvent are mixedtogether. To increase the darkness of the color, the ratio of dye tosolvent is increased. Dendrimers are then added to the solvent. Thesolvent selected should dissolve the dye and should at least soften thedendrimer so that the dye is captured in the structure of the dendrimer.The solvent is evaporated or the solute filtered from the solution. Theresidue from the evaporation or the filtered material is dried andcrushed into a powder. The powder may be processed as any powdered dyeis processed. For a further discussion on dendrimers reference can bemade to the article “Laser emission from high-gain media of dye-dopeddendrimer” by Shiyoshi Yokoyama, Akira Otomo and Shino Mashiko, AppliedPhysics Letters Vol. 80 No. 1. 7 Jan. 2002, pages 7-9, the entiredocument is hereby incorporated by reference.

Alternatively, light emitting material crushed into powder, e.g.powdered dendrimer containing dyes can be press-applied onto one or moremajor surfaces of the interlayer 32, or in the case of glass plies maybe mixed with the molten glass during the glass making process. Thelight emitting material maybe applied to a surface of the substrate,e.g. plies 18, 24, or interlayer 32 by any conventional coating method,e.g. by sputter coating, coating vapor deposition or spray pyrolysis andany of the coating processes discussed below. More particularly, a thinfilm coating of a Europium, Thulium, Erbium, Ytterbium or other rareearth element doped oxide host, e.g. Yttria Partially StabilizedZirconia. The processes of sputter coating, coating vapor deposition andspray pyrolysis and those identified in this discussion are well knownand no further discussion is deemed necessary. In the exemplarylaminated support 12 shown in FIG. 1, the light emitting material 11 canbe located between the first ply 18 and the second ply 24, e.g., betweenthe first ply 18 and the interlayer 32. The light emitting material 11can form a continuous coating layer on all or at least a portion of thecomponents of the supports 12 and 44. Alternatively, the light emittingmaterial 11, e.g. fluorescent material can be present in discreetsections or areas of the components or can be present in non-film form,such as inorganic crystalline powders or organic light emittingmaterials deposited on or carried on the components of the supports.Materials for Stage II Conversion preferably include, but are notlimited to heavy-metal halide glasses, which are based on elements ofzirconium, barium, hafnium, indium, zinc, cadmium, e.g. a glass soldunder the mark ZBLAN having a composition of 53% ZrF₄, 20% BaF₂, 4%LaF₃, 3% AlF₃ and 20% NaF and variations thereof which include anions ofCl, Br, I and cations of other heavy metals; chalcognenide glass havingfar-infrared transparency, e.g. beyond 20 microns (2000 nm); alkalimetal crystals which can be ground into nanometer sized particles andmixed with material having a melting temperature lower than thecrystals, e.g. plastics, and soda-lime-silica glasses. As can beappreciated by those skilled in the art of Stage II Conversion, SiO₂glasses are generally not preferred hosts for up-Conversion fluorescencebecause of the high non-radiative losses; however its ease ofmanufacture and heat treating makes the glass surfaces suitable forsupporting coatings and layers having Up-Conversion fluorescentmaterials and to induce very localized phase transitions in the glasseson a micro-crystalline level, using rare earth ions as nucleation sites.

THE PROJECTING ASSEMBLY—With continued reference to FIG. 1, and asdiscussed above, the display system 10 of the invention, e.g., thehead-up display system, can also include the projection assembly 14.Although not limiting to the invention, one exemplary projectionassembly 14 is schematically shown in FIG. 1 and includes an energysource or radiation source 60, e.g., an electromagnetic radiation sourcecapable of emitting radiation, e.g., electromagnetic radiation, of oneor more selected wavelengths within at least a portion of the absorptionband of the light emitting material 11, e.g. fluorescent material. Asused herein, the term “selected wavelength” means a single wavelength,e.g. but not limiting to the invention, for Stage I Conversion, or arange of wavelengths, e.g. but not limiting to the invention for StageII Conversion within the absorption band of the fluorescent material 11.Radiation sources that can be used in the practice of the invention butnot limiting thereto include electron guns, e.g. of the type used withCRT tubes, UV emitting lamps, LED's, lasers, pump lasers and laserdiodes. As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it ispreferred to direct one or more beams of energy having the selectedwavelength toward the fluorescent material to provide an image havingsharp lines. In the practice of the invention, the beams of energy canbe collimated or focused beams. In the instance where the radiationsource emits non-collimated beams of energy, lens may be used tocollimate or focus the beams of energy. In one exemplary embodiment ofthe invention relating to Stage I Conversion, the radiation source 60 isa laser or laser diode capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation ofone or more selected wavelengths or wavelength ranges, for example, butnot limiting to the invention, 300 nm to 500 nm; 325 nm to 425 nm; 350nm to 410 nm; 390 nm to 400 nm, or 397 nm. In an exemplary embodiment ofthe invention relating to Up-Conversion, the radiation source 60 is apump laser, LED's, laser or laser diode capable of emittingelectromagnetic radiation of two or more selected wavelengths, e.g. onewavelength in the visible range, e.g. 380 to 760 nm and the remainingwavelengths in the IR range, e.g. 760 or all of the wavelengths in theIR range. As can be appreciated, radiation sources operating in the UV,visible and infrared range may be used in the practice of the invention.However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art thatthe selected wavelength of the radiation source 60 can be selected basedon the specific fluorescent material 11 utilized so that all or at leasta portion of the selected wavelength range is at least partly within theabsorption band of the fluorescent material 11 being used. Suitableradiation sources for Stage I Conversion include, but are not limited toModel PPM04 (LD1349) and Model PPMT25/5255 (LD1380) laser diodescommercially available from Power Technologies, Inc. The radiationsources can be of any desired power output, such as 5 milliwatt (“mW”)to 100 mW, e.g., 5 mW to 30 mW. Other suitable radiation sources arecommercially available from Edmund Industrial Optics and Coherent AuburnDivision. Suitable radiation sources for Stage II Conversion include,but are not limited to low power infrared laser diodes or LED's, e.g. aninfrared laser operating at 1.54 micrometers, available from any lasermanufacturer e.g., but not limited to Chesapeak Laser System, Inc., ofLantham, Md. and Kigre, Inc., of Toledo, Ohio. As a general rule, as theoutput power of the radiation source increases, the brightness of thefluorescent image produced also increases.

The projection assembly 14 can include a directing system 62 (e.g., ascanner) to the direct or scan radiation emitted from the radiationsource 60 toward the fluorescent material 11. The directing system 62can include one or more directors 64, such as a mirror or combination oftwo or more mirrors, each movably mounted on a movement device 66, suchas a conventional mechanical or electrical positioning device. Forexample, the director 64 can include two mirrors, one for verticalmovement and one for horizontal movement of radiation from the radiationsource 60. Other directing systems include, but are not limited toferroelectric domain scanners of the type discussed in the article“Guided-wave Electro-Optic Beam Deflector Using Domain Reversal inLiTaO₃” by Qibiao, Yi Chiu, David N. Lambeth, T. E, Schelesinger andDaniel D. Stancil, published in the Journal of Lightwave Technology,Vol. 12, No. 8, Aug. 1994, and in Ferroelectric Laser Scanner by DavidA. Scymgeour, Alok Sharan, Venkatraman Gopaian, Kevin T. Gahagan, JoannaL. Casson, Robert Sander, Jeanne M. Robinson, Fikri Muhammad, PremanandChandramani and Fouad Kiamiliev, published in Applied Physics Letters(2002), 81(17), 3140-3142 presented in SciFinder dated Mar. 4, 2003, thedocuments in their entirety are hereby incorporated by reference. Aswill be described in more detail below, the movement device 66 isconfigured to move the director 64 to selectively direct the radiationemitted from the radiation source 60 toward one or more selected areasof the fluorescent material 11. A suitable director 64 is a Model 6800HPscanner commercially available from Cambridge Technology, Inc.

A blocking device 67 can be located between the radiation source 60 andthe directing system 62. For example, the blocking device 67 can be anelectro-optical modulator, an electromechanical device, or a similardevice to selectively block and unblock radiation from the radiationsource 60 passing to the directing system 62. For example, the blockingdevice 67 can include a crystal that switches from being transparent tothe selected wavelength(s) to being opaque to the selected wavelength(s)by the application of a voltage. Another blocking device that can beused in the practice of the invention is a deflector, which deflects orsweeps the energy beam at an accelerated rate away from the directingsystem onto an opaque surface.

In the practice of Stage II Conversion, two projection assemblies 14 canbe provided, or one projection assembly having two lasers of the same ordifferent wavelengths can be provided, or one projection assembly havingone laser capable emitting radiation in two wavelengths can be provided,for the pump-up of the light emitting material.

The radiation source 60 and/or the directing system 62 and/or blockingdevice 67 can be connected to a controller 68, such as a conventionalcomputer or electronic control device. The controller 68 can beconfigured to energize the movement device 66 and to move the director64 to direct the radiation from the radiation source 60 toward thefluorescent material 11 to form patterns or images, as described below.Additionally, the controller 68 can modulate the power of the radiationsource 60 to vary the intensity of the energy beam from the radiationsource. In one embodiment, the controller 68 is configured to activateand deactivate the blocking device 67 to block and unblock at least aportion, e.g., all, of the radiation from the radiation source 60passing to the director 64. If the blocking device 67 is not present,the controller 68 can be configured to energize and deenergize theradiation source 60 as described below. An example of a suitablecontroller is a FieldGo portable computer commercially available fromBroadax Systems, Inc. Suitable control software includes Microsoft®operating software, e.g., Windows 95®. Suitable imaging softwareincludes “Laser Show Designer for Windows: Professional 2.86”commercially available from Microsoft®.

The radiation source 60, directing system 62, blocking device 67, and/orcontroller 68 can be in electronic communication with a conventionalpower source 70, such as a battery or electrical generator, to supplypower to the components of the projection assembly 14. Additionally, thecontroller 68 can be in electronic communication with one or morevehicle operating systems 72, such as automotive speed sensing systems,alarm systems, global positioning systems, electronic sending orreceiving systems, and the like to display the information generated bythe operating systems 72 on the support 12.

In one non-limiting embodiment, the fluorescent material 11 isassociated with the first ply 18, e.g. on the surface 22 of the firstply 18 or between the surfaces 20 and 22 of the first ply 18. Thematerial of the interlayer 32 and/or of the ply 24 can be selectedand/or a material applied to the surfaces of the ply 24 and interlayer32 to absorb some or all of the electromagnetic radiation from theradiation source 60 impinging on the support 12 such that little or noelectromagnetic radiation from the radiation source 60 incident on theply 18 of the support 12 passes through the support 12, e.g., to theoutside of the vehicle during the practice of Stage I and Stage IIconversation. In addition to limiting the radiation incident on thesupport from passing through the support, the interlayer 32 and ply 24can limit radiation from the environment on the opposite side of thesupport that may fluoresce the material 11 during the practice of StageI Conversion, e.g. from outside the vehicle from passing through thesupport 12.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the amountof electromagnetic radiation that passes through the support 12 willdepend upon several factors, such as the thickness and/or composition ofthe plies 18, 24, the thickness and/or composition of the interlayer 32,the amount and/or composition of the fluorescent material 11, and thewavelength(s) of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiationsource 60. Thus, the laminated support 12 shown in FIG. 1 and describedabove can provide a first portion 100, which is transparent orsubstantially transparent to the electromagnetic radiation emitted bythe radiation source 60 and a second portion 102 that is non-transparentor substantially non-transparent to the electromagnetic radiationemitted by the radiation source 60. By “substantially transparent to theelectromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source 60” is meantthat at least 50% of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by theradiation source 60 and in the absorption band of the fluorescentmaterial for Stage I Conversion and for the pump-up for stage IIConversion passes through the support 12, for example more than 70%,such as more than 80%, e.g., in the range of 50% to 100%. By“substantially non-transparent to the electromagnetic radiation emittedby the radiation source 60” is meant that less than 50% of theelectromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation source 60 and in theabsorption band of the fluorescent material for Stage I Conversion andfor the pump-up for Stage II Conversion passes through the support 12,for example less than 35%, such as less than 20%, e.g., in the range of0% to 50%.

The interlayer 32 and/or the ply 24 may be adjusted to be substantiallynon-transparent to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by theradiation source 60 by providing a function a coating on one or moresurfaces of the interlayer and/or ply 24 that reflects the wavelength,e.g. but not limiting to the invention a coating having an infraredreflective film such as gold or silver, utilizing a colored or tinted,i.e., non-clear, material for the interlayer and/or ply 24, and/oradding a material, e.g. cerium that wavelengths of the electromagneticspectrum in the UV range. As can be appreciated, applying thefluorescent material to the inner surface 20 of the ply 18, provides forapplying a material substantially non-transparent to the electromagneticradiation emitted by the radiation source 60 to the outer surface 22 ofthe ply 18 and/or adding the material to the body of the ply 18 asdiscussed above for the ply 24 and interlayer 32. Further as can beappreciated, an opaque material can be added between the portion andarea of the fluorescent material 11 on which the image is to bedisplayed and the outer surface 28 of the ply 24.

An exemplary method of practicing Stage I Conversion of the inventionwill now be described with particular reference to the exemplary head-updisplay having the laminated support 12 shown in FIG. 1. The controller68 energizes the radiation source 60 to emit a beam 74 ofelectromagnetic radiation of one or more selected wavelengths toward thedirector 64. Assuming the blocking device 67 is in a deenergized or“open” mode, at least a portion, e.g., all, of the emitted radiationpasses through the blocking device 67 and onto the director 64. Thedirector 64 redirects this energy beam 74 toward the fluorescentmaterial 11 located on the support 12. The fluorescent material 11absorbs at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation and thenfluoresces, i.e., emits energy 76, such as energy in the visible regionof the electromagnetic spectrum, which can be seen by the occupant 78 ofthe vehicle. The occupant or viewer 78 can be the vehicle driver or oneor more of the passengers.

The controller 68 directs the movement device 66 to point the director64 to different areas of the fluorescent material 11 to cause theseselected areas of the fluorescent material 11 to fluoresce to form animage visible to the occupant 78. The controller 68 can vary the output,e.g., the power or beam intensity, of the radiation source 60 to causedifferent areas of the fluorescent material 11 to fluoresce at differentlevels of brightness. For example, in one exemplary embodiment thedirector 64 can raster the direction of the radiation beam 74 along aportion or all of the fluorescent material 11. By “raster”, is meant toform a scan pattern, e.g., by scanning an area from side to side inlines from top to bottom or bottom to top. As the scan pattern isformed, the controller 68 can selectively energize and deenergize, i.e.,open and close, the blocking device 67 to form adjacent fluorescent andnon-fluorescent areas on the support 12 to thereby form one or morefluorescent images discernable by the driver. In an alternativeembodiment in which no blocking device 67 is present, the controller 68could energize and deenergize the radiation source 60 to form thefluorescent images.

The shaded area in FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary fluorescent image 80 inthe form of the letter “P” formed on a portion 82 of the support 12. Inone exemplary method of forming this image 80, the director 64 is movedin first and second directions, e.g., from side to side (as depicted bydirections L and R), and is displaced in a substantially perpendiculardirection, e.g., up and down (as depicted by directions U and D), toform a scan pattern or a plurality of scan paths 84 a to 84 g. Forpurposes of the present explanation only and not limiting to theinvention, the individual scan paths 84 a to 84 g are depicted as beingseparated by dashed lines in FIG. 3. However, it will be understood thatthese dashed lines are simply for explanation purposes only and wouldnot be visible during actual operation. The width (W) of the scan paths84 a to 84 g can correspond to a width of the beam 74. Adjacent scanpaths can be overlapping, i.e. the perpendicular displacement of thedirector 64 (in the U or D directions) can be less than the width of thebeam 74. On the other hand, the perpendicular displacement of thedirector 64 can be greater than the width of the beam 74 so that a gapis formed between adjacent scan paths (not shown).

In one exemplary method of forming the image 80 practicing Stage IConversion, the director 64 can be traversed from left to right withrespect to FIG. 3 along the uppermost scan path 84 a with the blockingdevice 67 energized, i.e., closed. When the director 64 reaches aposition equivalent to position 86, i.e., when the director 64 ispointing to position 86, the blocking device 67 can be deenergized whilethe director 64 continues to traverse to the right (direction R) so thatthe region of the uppermost scan path 84 a from position 86 to position88 fluoresces. At position 88, the blocking device 67 can be energized(closed) for the remainder of the scan path 84 a (i.e., until thedirector 64 reaches the end of the scan path 84 a). The director 64 canthen be displaced in direction D to the next scan path 84 b and moved indirection L along the scan path 84 b to position 88 where the blockingdevice 67 is again deenergized (opened) from position 88 to position 90.At position 90, the blocking device 67 is energized (closed) untilposition 92 when the blocking device 67 is again deenergized (open) fromposition 92 to position 86. At position 86, the blocking device 67 isenergized (closed) for the remainder of the scan path 84 b, at whichtime the director 64 is again displaced in direction D to the next scanspath 84 c. In this manner, the fluorescent image 80 can be formed. Whilethe formation of only a single letter is described above, it will beunderstood that adjacent letters, words, sentences, numbers, symbols, orimages could be formed in a similar manner.

In one exemplary method of forming the image 80 practicing Stage IIConversion, the director 64 directs two laser beams of differentwavelengths to pump-up the light emitting material. The radiation of thefirst laser beam is incident on the light emitting material followed bythe radiation of the second laser beam incident on the light emittingmaterial. The director 64 can be traversed from left to right withrespect to FIG. 3 along the uppermost scan path 84 a with the blockingdevice 67 energized, i.e., closed. When the director 64 reaches aposition equivalent to position 86, i.e., when the director 64 ispointing to position 86, the blocking device 67 can be deenergized whilethe director 64 continues to traverse to the right (direction R) so thatthe region of the uppermost scan path 84 a from position 86 to position88 of the light emitting material is in the pump-up condition andfluoresces. At position 88, the blocking device 67 can be energized(closed) for the remainder of the scan path 84 a (i.e., until thedirector 64 reaches the end of the scan path 84 a). The director 64 canthen be displaced in direction D to the next scan path 84 b and moved indirection L along the scan path 84 b to position 88 where the blockingdevice 67 is again deenergized (opened) from position 88 to position 90.At position 90, the blocking device 67 is energized (closed) untilposition 92 when the blocking device 67 is again deenergized (open) fromposition 92 to position 86. At position 86, the blocking device 67 isenergized (closed) for the remainder of the scan path 84 b, at whichtime the director 64 is again displaced in direction D to the next scanpath 84 c. In this manner, the fluorescent image 80 can be formed. Whilethe formation of only a single letter is described above, it will beunderstood that adjacent letters, words, sentences, numbers, symbols, orimages could be formed in a similar manner. As can be appreciated, theinvention contemplates blocking the beam from one laser to prevent thepump-up to display the image.

It is also to be understood that the image forming method of theinvention is not limited to the above-described exemplary rasteringembodiment. For example, while in the above-described method thedirector 64 is alternately moved laterally from left to right and rightto left across the fluorescent material 11 while energizing anddeenergizing the blocking device 67 to form the image 80, the director64 could alternatively be laterally moved in only one direction whileforming the image 80, e.g., always to the right or always to the leftwhile forming the scan pattern in similar manner to the movement of anelectron beam in a conventional cathode ray tube image system. Forexample, the director 64 could start on the upper left scan path 84 aand scan to the right while energizing and deenergizing the blockingdevice 67. At the end of the scan path 84 a, the blocking device 67 canbe energized (closed), the director moved to the left and down to theleft side of the next scan path 84 b, and then the director 64 moved tothe right along the second scan path 84 b while energizing anddeenergizing the blocking device 67. Further, rather than starting atthe top of the scan pattern and moving downwardly, the image 80 could beformed by starting at the bottom of the scan pattern and moving thedirector 64 to direct the radiation beam 74 upwardly. Additionally,rather than moving the director 64 across the entire field of thefluorescent material 11, the director 64 could be used to “paint” animage, i.e., the director 64 could be moved or directed by thecontroller 68 to only trace over or within the actual area of thepattern or image to be formed. For example, to form the letter “P”, thedirector 64 would point, e.g., direct the beam 74, only to the areawithin the confines of the letter “P” rather than sweeping the director64 over the area outside of the area forming the fluorescent letter “P”which is to remain non-fluorescent. As will be appreciated by one ofordinary skill in the art, the invention is not limited to the type ofrastering or scanning process used to form the image 80. For example,rather than the horizontal scanning methods described above, using canform the scan pattern vertical scan paths with lateral displacement atthe end of the vertical scan path. Diagonal scan paths could even beused, if desired.

Alternatively, in an embodiment without the blocking device 67, theradiation source 60 could be energized and deenergized during formationof the scan pattern on the fluorescent material 11 to form a desiredimage.

As discussed above, for a vehicle head-up display the controller 68 canbe in electronic communication with various on-board vehicle systems 72to utilize the projection assembly 14 to form desired fluorescent imageson the support 12. Examples of such images can include vehicle speed,vehicle system indicator lights (such as oil, generator, tachometer,etc.), navigational information from a global positioning satellite(“GPS”) system, and a vehicle security system. For example, thecontroller 68 can be designed such that should the vehicle securitysystem be activated, the radiation source 60, blocking device 67, anddirector 64 are controlled to fluoresce at least a portion of thefluorescent material 11 on the support 12 and/or to form particularphrases which would be readable by those outside the vehicle, such as“help” or “please notify police”, etc. As a further example, thecontroller 68 can be in electronic communication, e.g., by radio wave,with a hand-held or pocket device, such as a key chain having a smallradio wave transmitter, so that when the pocket device is activated, thehorn sounds and/or the controller 68 activates the radiation source 60,blocking device 67 and directing system 62 to cause at least a portionof the fluorescent material 11 to fluoresce. This would be particularlyuseful in locating the vehicle in a crowded parking lot if the drivercould not remember exactly where he parked the vehicle. In an additionalexample, images from video cameras operating in any wavelength range,such as visible or infrared, could be projected onto the support 12carrying the fluorescent material 11 to form an image. In this manner,infrared cameras mounted on the vehicle could aid vision at night orunder adverse weather conditions. Cameras, e.g., mounted on vehicles,could also supplement vision available in the conventional fashionthrough windows and in mirrors.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, more thanone light emitting material, e.g., fluorescent material 11 can becarried on the support 12. The different fluorescent materials can beselected to fluoresce at different wavelengths or at different ranges ofwavelengths and, hence, to fluoresce at different visible colors. Aplurality of projection assemblies having different radiation sources 60(the radiation sources 60 having respective output wavelengths withinthe absorption bands of the respective fluorescent materials) withrespective directing systems 62 could be positioned in the vehicle sothat different types of data can be displayed with different fluorescedcolors. In FIG. 1, an optional second projection assembly 14′ is shownin dotted lines. For example, a first radiation source and fluorescentmaterial combination can be utilized to display a first type ofinformation, such as vehicle speed, by forming images of a first color,e.g., blue fluorescent images, on the support. This means that at leasta portion of the fluorescent material on the support absorbselectromagnetic radiation in the wavelength or wavelength range emittedby the first radiation source and fluoresces at a selected visiblewavelength or range in the blue region of the visible electromagneticspectrum. Another source of information, such as vehicle statusindicators, can be displayed using a second projection assembly having asecond radiation source that is configured to fluoresce a secondfluorescent material present on the support at a selected wavelength orrange in a second color region, e.g., the yellow region, of the visibleelectromagnetic spectrum. If different fluorescent materials aredeposited on the support, it would also be possible utilizing differentlaser devices to form colored images by simultaneously irradiating thefluorescent materials such that the fluoresced light from the differentfluorescent materials combine to form a selected color. In the exampledescribed immediately above, the two fluorescent materials can besimultaneously irradiated such that the resultant blue and yellowfluoresced images combine to form a green colored image. In the Stage IIConversion, a pump laser can be used with an Up-Conversion fluorescentmaterial having two or more different colors at different energy levelsto provide two or more colors, e.g. erbium for red and green colors withone fluorescent material and one laser.

Alternatively, a single fluorescent material 11 that fluoresces over arange of wavelengths dependent upon the wavelength(s) of the absorbedradiation can be provided on the supports 12 and 44. For example, thefluorescent material 11 can fluoresce at one or more first fluorescentwavelength(s) (e.g., in the blue region of the electromagnetic spectrum)when irradiated by electromagnetic energy of one or more firstirradiation wavelength(s) and fluoresce at a second fluorescentwavelength(s) (e.g., in the yellow region of the electromagneticspectrum) when irradiated by electromagnetic energy of one or moresecond irradiation wavelength(s). In a still further embodiment, theplurality of radiation sources 60 described above can be substitutedwith a single radiation source capable of selectively emittingelectromagnetic energy of two or more desired wavelengths or ranges orwavelengths such that the single radiation source is capable ofproviding electromagnetic energy in the absorption band(s) of the one ormore fluorescent materials 11 to form separate images of differing colorand/or an image of a desired (combined) color as described above.

An alternative projection assembly 110 of the invention is shown in FIG.4. This projection assembly 110 is similar to the projection assembly 14shown in FIG. 1 but the radiation source 60 is directly and movablyconnected to the movement device 66 so that the radiation source 60 canbe moved and simultaneously energized and deenergized to formfluorescent images on the support 12 in similar manner as describedabove.

For use in a conventional automobile, the projection assembliesdescribed above can be located in or under the vehicle dashboard, withthe dashboard having a slot or opening of sufficient size to permit thebeam 74 of the projection system 110 (FIG. 2) and the beam from thedetector 64 (FIG. 1) to pass through. Although not limiting to theinvention, for the display system 10 shown in FIG. 1, respectively, theradiation source 60 of the detecting system 62 directs a beam of lightalong a path toward the inner surface 20 of the ply 24 of the support 12which is the same side of the support as is viewed by occupant 78 of thevehicle, therefore in this non-limiting embodiment of the invention, thepath of the beam of light from the radiation source, e.g. from thedirector 64 toward the support 12 is different than the viewing path ofthe occupant observing the generated image. The invention, however, isnot limited to placement of the projection assembly at the locationshown in FIG. 1. For example, if the display system 10 of the inventionwere incorporated into a side window, rear window, moon roof, etc., theprojection assembly could be placed at any desired location in thevehicle to allow operation of the display device 10 as described above.Also, the controller 68 can be configured to vary the application of theenergy from the radiation source 60 to modify the resultant fluorescentimage to adjust for variations in curvature of the support 12.

While the above discussion was directed primarily to utilization of theinvention in a vehicle head-up display, the invention is not limited tothis use. As discussed, the invention is not limited to use with vehicleor automotive transparencies. For example, the supports 12 and 44 shownin FIGS. 1 and 2 can be a residential or commercial window, anadvertising display, or a commercial sign configured to displayfluorescent images in a similar manner as described above. Further, thesupports 12 and 44 can be a pane of a conventional insulating glass unitor can be the insulating glass unit. The supports 12 and 44 upon whichthe fluorescent material 11 is carried can be a transparent article, atranslucent article, or an opaque article. The amount of material 11 canbe any amount to provide a desired level of brightness, i.e., thebrightness of image. As a general rule, as more fluorescent material 11is placed on the support 12 or 44, the brighter will be the resultantfluorescent image until the point is reached where all of the incomingelectromagnetic energy is absorbed by the fluorescent material. Theinvention can be practiced in a broad range of information display orentertainment applications. For example, a support 12 or 44 as describedabove can be used in a commercial location, such as a department store,grocery store, retail shop, etc., to display information regardingpricing information, upcoming sales, current specials, and the like.Unlike prior systems, the present invention would permit quick and easychanges and modifications to the displayed information utilizing thecontroller (e.g., a personal computer).

One exemplary use of the invention in the entertainment field would bein image displays for entertainment events, such as sporting events(e.g., football, baseball, hockey, basketball, and the like) or socialevents (nightclubs, bars, displays for shopping malls, and the like).For example, the invention could be used with a sound system at anightclub to display images related to particular songs being played.

The general concept of the invention will be described further withreference to the following Examples. However, it is to be understoodthat the following Examples are merely illustrative of the generalconcepts of the invention and are not intended to be limiting.

EXAMPLE 1

This example demonstrates forming fluorescent images utilizing a laserand a laminated support having fluorescent material located between theplies of the laminate.

A laminated article was formed using a 10 centimeter (“cm”) by 10 cmsquare piece of clear float glass 2 millimeters (“mm”) thick as a firstply and a 10 mm by 10 mm by 2 mm thick piece of SOLEX® glasscommercially available from PPG Industries, Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pa., asa second ply. SOLEX® glass has a green tint. To incorporate fluorescentmaterial into the laminated article, 0.025 g of Uvitex OB fluorescentmaterial commercially available from Ciba Specialty ChemicalsCorporation was dissolved in 50 ml of methanol. This solution was thenapplied onto a glass blank by dipping a surface of the blank into thesolution. The solution remaining on the glass blank was then allowed todry for five minutes under a heat lamp to form a dried layer offluorescent material on the blank. A major surface of the 10 cm by 10 cmclear glass ply described above was then pressed against the driedfluorescent material on the glass blank to adhere at least some of thedried fluorescent material onto the major surface of the clear glassply. The SOLEX® glass ply and the clear glass ply with the adheredfluorescent material were then laminated together utilizing Grade B 180SL polyvinyl butyral commercially available from E.I. DuPont de NemoursCorporation to form an interlayer having a thickness of 0.5 mm. Theclear glass ply was positioned such that the fluorescent material was onthe interior surface of the clear glass ply, i.e., on the side of theclear glass ply facing the interlayer. The lamination process included avacuum stage and an autoclave stage. During the vacuum stage, theassembled parts of the article were subjected to a vacuum from amechanical pump for seven minutes at room temperature and then foreighteen minutes at 255° F. (124° C.). During the autoclave stage, anautomatic process controlled the pressure and temperature. The pressurewas raised from atmospheric to 50 psi gage (3.5 kg/sq. cm) in tenminutes, held a 50 psi gauge (3.5 kg/sq. cm) for ten minutes, raised to200 psi gauge (14 kg/sq. cm) in five minutes, held at 200 pounds persquare inch (“PSI”) gage reading (14 kg/sq. cm) for thirty minutes, anddecreased to atmospheric pressure in five minutes. The temperature wasraised to 285° F. (140° C.) in ten minutes, held at 285° F. (140° C.)for thirty-five minutes, and allowed to cool for fifteen minutes. Thelaminated article was positioned on a support and an energy beam from alaser commercially available from Spectra-Physics and having a ratedoutput of 7.5 mW at 350 nm was directed to the clear glass ply side ofthe laminated article. The absorption band for the fluorescent material,which has its peak at 375 nm, overlapped the wavelength of the laseroutput. The electromagnetic radiation from the laser caused thefluorescent material to fluoresce and produce a strong, visible blue dotwhere the laser beam was directed onto the clear glass ply side of thelaminated article. The laser beam, reflected by a hand-held mirror, wasmoved across the clear glass ply side to cause the fluorescent materialin the path of the laser beam to fluoresce. The laser beam was thendirected to the SOLEX® glass ply side of the article and no fluorescencewas detected. This indicates that the electromagnetic beam from thelaser was not transmitted through the SOLEX® glass ply and/or polyvinylbutyral interlayer. Thus, the laser beam passes through the clear glassply side, but not through the polyvinyl butyral and SOLEX® glass plyside of the article.

EXAMPLE 2

The laminated article from Example 1 above was used with a differentprojection system than described above.

The projection system used in this Example utilized a model LD1349 laserdiode commercially available from Power Technology, Inc. and had a ratedoutput of 5 mW at 395 nm to 397 nm. This wavelength range is also withinthe absorption band of the Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporationfluorescent material incorporated into the laminated article. Again, thelaser beam was directed to the clear glass ply side of the article andfluorescence was observed yielding a fluorescent blue light along thepath of the laser beam.

FIG. 5 is a graph of percent transmittance vs. wavelength for a 2.1 mmthick piece of clear float glass (curve 112) and also for the laminatedarticle (curve 114) described above in Example 1. As shown in FIG. 5,for these particular materials there is a “transmittance gap” 116between the two curves. For example, energy at a wavelength of 370 nmhas a transmittance of 70% through the clear glass but has atransmittance of 0% through the laminated article itself. Thus, if afluorescent material having an absorption band which includes 370 nm isused in the laminated article, an energy beam of 370 nm can be directedthrough the clear glass side of the laminated article to causefluorescence but will not pass through the rest of the laminatedarticle.

As was mentioned above, soda-lime-silicate glasses have limitation whenused as hosts for Stage II Conversion or Up-Conversion fluorescence. Asshown in FIG. 5, there is no transmission gap in the infrared regionbetween the glass and the laminate. This limitation of soda-limesilicate glass can be overcome by positioning a layer of for exampledye-doped dendrimer on or between the glass plies or induce verylocalized phase transition on a micro-crystalline level using rare earthions as nucleation sites.

While some exemplary embodiments and uses of the present invention havebeen described above, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled inthe art that modifications can be made to the invention withoutdeparting from the concepts disclosed in the foregoing description. Forexample, although the invention was described above with particular useas a head-up display for a vehicle, the display system of the inventioncould be used in non-vehicular applications, such as the formation ofimages or information displays on non-transparent surfaces in vehiclesor elsewhere, such as walls, ceilings, or opaque screens. Thisinformation could include displays of advertisements, entertainment(such as light displays), or decorative patterns which could be changedas desired by an operator. Moreover, although the embodiments describedabove primarily utilized one or more fluorescent materials, it is to beunderstood that other types of light emitting materials, such as but notlimited to phosphorescent material(s) could be used in lieu of or inaddition to the fluorescent material(s).

As can be appreciated, the outer surface of the windshield or insulatingunit may be provided with a photocatalytic coating to keep the surfaceclean such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,766, or ahydrophobic coating, e.g. of the type but not limited to the type soldby PPG Industries Inc. under the trademark AQUAPEL and disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 5,523,162, which patents are herby incorporated by reference.As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, photocatalyticcoating can include TiO₂ films, which absorb UV radiation and thereforethe photocatalytic films can act as a functional coating discussedabove.

Accordingly, the particular embodiments described in detail herein areillustrative only and are not limiting to the scope of the invention,which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any andall equivalents thereof.

1. A display system, comprising: at least one light emitting materialhaving an absorption band; a first sheet over a first major surface ofthe at least one emitting material; a second sheet over an oppositesecond major surface of the at least one emitting material; and aprojection assembly having an electromagnetic radiation source, theprojection assembly configured to direct radiation of one or moreselected wavelengths within the absorption band of the light emittingmaterial toward the light emitting material to cause at least a portionof the light emitting material to emit light.
 2. The display systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the first and second sheets are glass orplastic transparent sheets and the projection assembly includes acontroller configured to selectively direct the radiation toward one ormore selected areas of the light emitting material.
 3. The displaysystem of according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting material isselected from fluorescent materials, phosphorescent materials andmixtures of fluorescent materials and phosphorescent materials.
 4. Thedisplay system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sheetsare components of an article selected from a commercial window, aresidential window, a commercial sign, an advertising display, and aninsulating glass unit.
 5. The system display according to claim 1,wherein the system is a head-up display system.
 6. The display systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising a layer substantiallynon-transparent to wavelengths within the predetermined absorption bandover a portion of a major surface of one of the sheets and in facingrelationship to the first major surface of the at least one emittingmaterial, wherein the electromagnetic radiation source of the projectionsystem is capable of generating at least one beam having at least oneselective wavelength within the absorption band, the projection assemblyfurther comprising a movement device configured to direct the beam toimpinge the beam on the second major surface of the at least one lightemitting material and to move the beam over the second major surface ofthe at least one light emitting material to cause at least a portion ofthe light emitting material to emit wavelengths at least in a range of380 nanometers to 760 nanometers of the electromagnetic spectrum definedas the visible region.
 7. A display system, comprising: at least onelight emitting material having an absorption band carried on a vehiculartransparency; and a protection assembly having an electromagneticradiation source, the protection assembly configured to direct radiationof one or more selected wavelengths within the absorption band of thelight emitting material toward the light emitting material to cause atleast a portion of the light emitting material to emit light.
 8. Thedisplay system according to claim 7, wherein the vehicular transparencyis an automotive transparency and the automotive transparency comprisesa first ply joined to a second ply by an interlayer and at least one ofthe first and second plies is selected from annealed glass, temperedglass, and heat strengthened glass, and further comprising a functionalcoating between the second ply and the interlayer.
 9. The systemaccording to claim 7, wherein the system is a vehicle head-up displaysystem and the vehicular transparency is a windshield comprising a firstply and a second ply, with the at least one light emitting materiallocated between the first and second plies.
 10. A vehicle having thehead-up display system according to claim
 9. 11. The display systemaccording to claim 7, wherein the radiation source is selected fromlasers capable of generating one radiation beam, a UV light generatingsource, electron guns, LEDs, lasers capable of generating two radiationbeams of different wavelengths, laser diodes and combinations thereof.12. A display system comprising: at least one light emitting materialhaving an absorption band carried on a support; a protection assemblyhaving an electromagnetic radiation source, the protection assemblyconfigured to direct radiation of one or more selected wavelengthswithin the absorption band of the light emitting material toward thelight emitting material to cause at least a portion of the lightemitting material to emit light; wherein the support comprises a sheethaving at least one light emitting material having a predeterminedabsorption band and a major surface, and further comprising a layersubstantially non-transparent to wavelengths within the predeterminedabsorption band over a portion of the second major surface of the sheet,wherein the electromagnetic radiation source of the protection system iscapable of generating at least one beam having at least one selectivewavelength within the absorption band, the protection assembly furthercomprising a movement device configured to direct the beam toward thesheet to impinge the beam on the light emitting material and to move thebeam over the major surface of the light emitting material to cause atleast a portion of the light emitting material to emit wavelengths atleast in a range of 380 nanometers to 760 nanometers of theelectromagnetic spectrum defined as the visible region, and furthercomprising a member passing less than 50% of the wavelengths within thepredetermined absorption band impinging on the member, the at least onelight emitting material between the member and the first ply.
 13. Ahead-up display system, comprising: at least one light emitting materialhaving an absorption band carried on a laminated transparency, thelaminated transparency, comprising: a first transparent sheet having afirst major surface and an opposite second major surface; a secondtransparent sheet having a first major surface and an opposite secondmajor surface; an interlayer between and securing the first and secondsheets to one another with the second major surfaces of the sheetsfacing one another, and at least one light emitting material having anabsorption band on the first major surface of the first sheet or betweenthe first major surfaces of the first and second sheets, and aprotection assembly having an electromagnetic radiation source, theprojection assembly mounted in spaced relationship to the laminatedtransparency and configured to direct the radiation of one or moreselected wavelengths within the absorption band of the at least onelight emitting material toward the first surface of the first sheet toimpinge on the at least one light emitting material to cause selectedportions of the at least one light emitting material to emit light. 14.The head-up display according to claim 13, further comprising a thirdsheet between the at least one light emitting material and the firstmajor surface of the second sheet, the third sheet non-transparent towavelengths within the predetermined absorption band.
 15. A head-updisplay, comprising: a laminated transparency, comprising: a firsttransparent sheet having a first major surface and an opposite secondmajor surface; a second transparent sheet having a first major surfaceand an opposite second major surface; an interlayer between and securingthe first and second sheets to one another with the second majorsurfaces of the sheets facing one another; and at least one lightemitting material capable of Up-Conversion of infrared energy intovisible radiation defined as Up-Conversion material on the first majorsurface of the first sheet or between the first major surfaces of thefirst and second sheets; and a projection assembly having anelectromagnetic radiation source, the projection assembly mounted inspaced relationship to the laminated transparency and configured todirect radiation of one or more selected wavelengths within theabsorption band of the at least one Up-Conversion material toward thefirst surface of the first sheet to impinge on the at least oneUp-Conversion material to cause selected portions of the at least oneUp-Conversion material to emit light.
 16. The head-up display accordingto claim 15, wherein the Up-Conversion material is selected fromfluorescent materials, phosphorescent materials, and mixtures thereof.17. The head-up display according to claim 15, wherein the Up-Conversionmaterial is a dye-doped dendrimer.
 18. The head-up display according toclaim 15, wherein the projection assembly further comprises a powersource capable of emitting at least two radiation beams, wherein atleast one of the beams is at a wavelength of greater than 700 nanometersof the electromagnetic spectrum.
 19. The head-up display according toclaim 15, wherein the laminated transparency is an automotivetransparency.
 20. The head-up display according to claim 15 furthercomprising a member between the Up-Conversion material and the firstmajor surface of the second sheet, the member passing less than 50% ofthe infrared energy band impinging on the member.
 21. A method ofdisplaying images, comprising the steps of: providing an automotivetransparency having at least one light emitting material, andcontrolling and directing electromagnetic radiation from a radiationsource to cause the at least one light emitting material to form animage.
 22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the controlling anddirecting step is practiced by: directing the electromagnetic radiationfrom the radiation source in a first direction along a first scan pathwhile selectively energizing and deenergizing the radiation source;displacing the electromagnetic radiation in a second directionsubstantially perpendicular to the first direction; and directing theelectromagnetic radiation in a third direction along a second scan pathsubstantially parallel to the first direction while selectivelyenergizing and deenergizing the radiation source, wherein energizing andde-energizing the radiation source along the scan paths forms the image.23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising energizing anddeenergizing the radiation source to form adjacent light emitting andnon-light emitting areas on the automotive transparency.
 24. The methodaccording to claim 22, further comprising blocking and unblockingradiation from the radiation source to form adjacent light emitting andnon-light emitting areas on the automotive transparency.
 25. The methodaccording to claim 21 wherein the controlling and directing step ispracticed by selectively directing electromagnetic radiation from theradiation source towards the automotive transparency and moving theradiation along at least a portion of the automotive transparency andcontrolling the radiation source to cause the light emitting material toemit light to form the image.
 26. A method of displaying images, thesteps of: providing a support having at least one light emittingmaterial, and controlling and directing electromagnetic radiation from aradiation source to cause the at least one light emitting material toform an image, wherein the controlling and directing step is practicedby: selectively moving at least one beam of radiation of one or moreselected wavelengths in a direction defined as a first direction towarda surface of the support defined as a first surface, the first surfaceof the support having the light emitting material, wherein the lightemitting material is selected from materials having an absorption band,a material capable of Up-Conversion into visible radiation and mixturesthereof; and displacing the radiation beam and the light emittingmaterial relative to one another during the practice of the selectivelymoving step to selectively impinging at least one radiation beam havinga wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum on the light emittingmaterial to cause the light emitting material to emit light to form theimage, the image having a predetermined configuration, while preventingtransmission of radiation of wavelengths within the absorption band in adirection toward a surface defined as a second surface of the support,wherein the first surface of the support is opposite the second surfaceof the support.
 27. The method according to claim 26, wherein thepredetermined configuration includes images selected from alphanumericalimages, dynamic images, moving figures, moving objects, stationaryscenic views, moving scenic views, stationary objects, stationarypersons and combinations thereof.
 28. The method according to claim 26,wherein the selective moving step is practiced by selectively energizingand de-energizing the radiation source or by blocking and unblockingradiation from the radiation source and the displacing step is practicedby moving the beam along a plurality of scan paths to form adjacentlight emitting and non-light emitting areas on the support.